Aug 29, 2011

My Old Black Book

Okay, here's my old black maroon BOOK. Of all the things that belong to me my Bible is probably the most valuable. It's been with me for a long time and it is filled with memories and messages. 


I've had this KJ Bible since 1999. It was a gift from a church in Dearborn Heights, MI. They asked us to give them a few items we would like and they would try to get them for us for the missions conference. I had a Bible but it wasn't very nice and so I asked for a Bible and they gave me the Old Scofield Study Bible. I immediately fell in love with this Bible. It had great references in the back including a proper name concordance. I know that Scofield was off in a lot of places with his doctrine and I wouldn't suggest this Bible to a new Christian but for me it was great. 

I've personalized my Bible through the years. I have pictures of my family in the front and back. The above pictures are: 

(the left cover across the top and then bottom) 
Johnny reading his Bible in 1997 in Hungary on our survey trip to Croatia, My babies while we were on deputation, my family also while on deputation, my dear Daddy who died when he was 39, he's 38 in that photo.  

(the right side across the top and then bottom) 
the photo on our second prayer card, Joshua and Cody looking cool, and my sweetie


My Bible is filled with great quotes and sayings I have heard through out the years. I only have one signature in my Bible, that of Bro. McCracken's wife Nancy. I heard her testimony in a meeting in Romania and was so moved by her faith after a terrible crippling car accident. 

Anyhow, I have some pretty nifty sayings too. 

Treasures in Heaven are laid up as treasures on Earth are laid down. -Dr. Todd Lasseter (my pastor)

You can't clean a polluted well by painting the well house. -Dr. Bob W. Smith 

I'm narrow minded because I travel a narrow road. -Bro. Floyd, Fellowship Baptist, Jackson, MI

I'm not shouting on credit, I'm should on a "paid in full" bill. -Johnny Leslie

85% of being successful is simply being in my place. -Dr. Smith

I'm a nut but I'm screwed onto the right bolt! -unknown

You fall the way you lean. -Charles Wetherbee

Meekness: Having strength under control. -unknown

To be a missionary you don't have to cross the see but you do have to see the cross. -unknown

Joy is not the absence of trouble but the presence of Jesus. -unknown

Stay in the Book till the Book stays in you. -Dr. Raymond Barber

I don't know how often Noah fell down in the Ark but I know he never fell out! -Dr. J.C. House

No man can ever be used of God until he's willing to be forgotten by all. -Veteran Missionary Jimmy Rose

If it doesn't move you enough to pray about it, don't whine about it! -Pastor Wes Bailey

A tear today is an investment in a laugh tomorrow. -Dr. Lasseter

A heart touched by grace brings joy to the face. -Dr. Lasseter

The church is not a museum of Saints. -Pastor Bocook

Anyhow, those are just some of the little sayings I have in my Bible. I love to go back every once in a while and read them all. They're like mini sermons!


I have on one of the front pages of my Bible this poem: 

There is a treasure,
Rich beyond measure, 
Offered to mortals today;
Some folks despise it, 
Some criticize it, 
Some would explain it away.

Some never read it, 
Some never head it, 
Some say, "It's long had it's day";
Some people prize it, 
And he who tries it, 
Finds it's his comfort and stay. 

God gave this treasure, 
Rich beyond measure, 
His Word, we call it today. 
Let us believe it, 
Gladly receive it, 
Read, mark and learn to obey. 
                              -A.M.N.


Over the name of each book I have the name in Croatian. Several years back I realized I didn't know all the names so I thought that would help, it did. 

Also above Genesis 1:1, I wrote DEAR TORI. Our preacher Dr. Smith preached once about the Bible being a love letter from God to us. He told us how he wrote in his Bible at Genesis 1:1: DEAR BOB and after Revelation 22:21 he wrote: LOVE, GOD. I loved this idea and I did the same with my Bible. It's a love letter to me from God!


My Bible is bilingual too. I have notes in both English and Croatian. I have many wise quotes from the national pastor, Rajko Telebar


And again on the back cover I have more photos. Actually a lot less than I used to have. I need to add some more current ones soon.

(the left cover across the top and then bottom) 
My best friend Amanda Rasbeary, Preachers wife in Wylie, Texas and I, Madison (Johnny's sister's oldest daughter), Johnny again, Madison and her little sister Kaitlyn (I super-love those girls)

(the right side top to bottom) 
Johnny again (can't get enough of him), and my Daddy back in 1976 sitting with Santa

Anyhow, that's my Bible. It means a lot to me, not only because it is God's inerrant, preserved Word but because it holds 12 years worth of memories. 

Anyhow, if you decided to share your Old Black Book, let me know so I can check it out!!
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Aug 28, 2011

Taking advantage of the trip

 I have always been a little interested in the different styles of homes and their periods but have only learned a little from watching HGTV, while on furloughs :0). Anyhow, we're in Ohio now and I am loving the variety of homes in the area. It seems like every other home is from a different period and I was baffled. I mean, I do know what the Victoria home looks like, but I didn't know that there are 4 different periods of Victorian homes.

I've recently learned about the Georgian style house.

and the Colonials are pretty easy to spot too. 

But what about all the others; like the one below.


Or this beauty.
and this country cutie?
There are so many that I have no idea what they are. 

So, while visiting the Half Priced Book Store in Cincinnati I picked up this gem. 
I have had so much fun reading this book and finding matching styles along the way. (yes I'm a little weird that way and I do think it's fun) This book is so full of info and is really a beginners dummy guide. It's not exhaustive by any means but it's a great jumping off point. 
Sadly, it won't shed any light into styles below but for the normal, sometimes boring world of American homes this book is a keeper! 

No, the photo isn't upside down! :0)

Oh yea and just think how smart you will look while out garage-selling with girlfriends when you say, "Oh wow, look at that Stick Style Victorian. I tend to lean towards the late Georgian styles." HA! how fun!


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Aug 25, 2011

Say "HEY" if you love Andy!

I remember watching Andy Griffith ever since I was a little girl. I loved Andy and Barney was great. Anyhow, I'm so glad God allowed us to see Andy Griffith's home town of Mt. Airy, the very town and people the actual show was made after. It was awesome! Here are some snapshots!
















If you grew up with Andy and Barney then you have to go to Mt. Airy, NC. It was one of the neatest things I've seen and believe me I've seen some things!
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Aug 17, 2011

Baptist Brothers? Yea Right!

Each time we come back for furlough I'm amazed at all the infighting among Christians and especially IFB Baptists.

What "camp" are you in? Where's you allegiance? Whose man are you?
For real? Are they kidding, I don't even like to camp!

No wonderful IFB Baptists aren't making a big impact on the enemy's army, we're too busy fighting within our own ranks!

I heard a great quote on this very subject last night at the conference we're in this week. Bro. Ron Ralph is preaching and boy, are my toes sore! Anyhow, here's the quote;

Putting out someone else's light won't make yours shine any brighter!

Sure would do us good to remember this one!
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Aug 15, 2011

Just stuff and a little life.

Today is Wednesday and as I sit here this morning thinking (I sometimes do that) I can't believe how fast our lives move. I'm sure this can't be healthy.

We are in N. Carolina staying with some dear friends, The Brantley Family. We met the Brantley Family back several years ago when they made a survey trip to Croatia. Bro. Brantley was making sure he would surrender to God if He were to ask him to go to the mission field. He answered yes but God called him on to another field here in N. Carolina. Bro. Shane has the sweetest wife Teresa and 6 adorable blond kids. They have been a huge blessing to us allowing us to stay with them a few times over the years. We're thankful for our hosts and they part they play in God's plan here in N.C.

So, we've been here for over a week it seems and we'll be headed out tomorrow to make our way to Ohio. Josh will be loading up and hooking up our utility trailer since Johnny is in California on a business trip, literally. He'll be back tomorrow and I can't wait. I'm such a baby when in comes to Johnny, I can only do without him for so long and yesterday about 5 hours after he flew out was my "only so long". I miss him already and can't wait for him to make it "home" (where ever we are is home) tomorrow. We'll pick him up at the Raleigh airport and then head north and sleep somewhere in West Virginia. The next day we'll make our way to Ohio and get ready to start a conference.

We've officially been on this trip for a whole month but it seems like so much longer. We've been in meetings in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and N. Carolina so far and we still have Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, Missouri and then back in to Texas for another conference. We have had some wonderful fellowship along the way and been in some great churches. We have been visiting mainly supporting churches and I think we have had maybe 4 new churches this furlough. There are some churches that we haven't been to for 12 years but due to scheduling problems on both sides we haven't made it their way. Anyhow, the South East Coast  was our goal for this furlough and then maybe next furlough we'll make it to the West Coast, maybe.

We're busy doing school. this year we have Joshua in 11th grade and Hannah is a freshman. I can't even believe that not only do I have a son starting college next month but I have two others in high school. Are you kidding me? How did we get here and who are these children? What happened to my little ones who would actually eat happy meals (those were the days, the cheap days)? When I stop and think that in less than 5 years I'll be a long distance Mom, it amazes me and scares me.

Our son Cody is getting ready to start Bible college in a few weeks. He's doing very well getting used to life in America. god gave him a job that would work with him. He decided that he wouldn't work on Sundays or Wednesdays and he knew God would honor that and He did. Cody found a job that lets him have Wednesdays, Saturday mornings and Sundays off. He's able to be in all services and go soul-winning on Saturday. I'm proud of Cody for making a stand and knowing God would honor it. He's doing great with out us and that's a sign on some measure of success on our part. Thank GOD!

Oh yea we finally got all the money we needed to pay for the container to ship the Bibles to Croatia. Praise the Lord. Grace Baptist Church in N. Carolina is a supporting church of ours. We weren't suppose to be with them at all this time around but we did have an oped date (the only open date) on Sunday morning so we dropped in. the pastor was so nice and let Johnny get up and give  a little report and then God did something great through Grace Baptist Church. We still needed $1500 to ship the container to Croatia and they decided that morning to give us $1000. Then after the service Bro. Bailey told us that they would bump it up to $1500. They didn't know but Johnny misspoke and we actually needed exactly $1500 for the rest of the shipping. Praise the Lord! The container will be filled with 10,000 New Testaments with the Psalms in Croatian, a donated pulpit and communion table along with tons of toys and church stuff. We're tickled to be able to take a container and along with all the goodies for the work we are able to put stuff in there for us and some of the missionaries in Croatia. When we went to Croatia we took 2 suitcases a piece and a carry on, that was it. Everything we have in Croatia is from there so to be able to take some things from the states is a wonderful blessing. Things are all that important but they sure make home feel a bit homier.

The work and churches in Croatia are doing wonderful. This furlough has been completely different than any of the previous ones. We now have a whole team of workers in Croatia so we are blessed to know that the work is in good hands and not only being kept on course, they are going full throttle for the Lord. Great things are happening there and we are dying to get back.

Since I started this post we are already gone from N. Carolina and in Eaton, OH. Life moves almost too fast to blog it!


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Aug 8, 2011

Some of our favorites

We have always enjoyed watching old movies. They don't make movies like they used to. Used to be that to have a great movie you actually had to have actors that could act. Now these days it seems like the actors are all fluff and rely on special FX to make the movie.

Here are a few of our favorites. 
Sergeant York, wow!! This is an all-time keeper. Gary cooper is amazing in this movie and it's such a wonderful story of courage at home and abroad. 


 What a beautiful love story, with a twist. I loved this one the very first time I watched it. It's a great Friday night, date night, movie to watch with your sweetie. Johnny even loved it.
Oh my goodness, I don't even know what to say. Jimmy Stewart is amazing in this movie and Jean Arthur is as wonderful as always. the congress scene is awesome, so worth the time. 
"Shane, Mama wants ya and Papa wants ya." Shane!! Oh this is one of my favorites westerns. Boys love this one. 
Last but not least, The Fiddler on the Roof is an amazing story of tradition and the Jewish people. After we loved it we were delightfully surprised to find our in was filmed right in the capital of our very own Croatia. How cool is that??? If you haven't seen this, go get it now!!!

Anyhow, these are our favorites, let me know what you think and if you've seen any of them.  
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Aug 6, 2011

Southern Charm

We were so glad to get to visit Rincon, GA and our good friends the Springers. Bro. 
Joe Springer is the pastor of Rincon Baptist Temple. He and Wendy are some of the more hospitable people we've ever known. 
We had such a great time with Joe and Wendy and their kids. They took us to Savannah and we were treated like royalty. 

Hannah and the Springer's girls, Anna and Emma
 Joshua and Kyle
Us, in case you didn't know. 
Just a pretty boat. 

They treated us to a wonderful carriage tour and we got to see some very quaint streets in Savannah. Hannah and the girls loved the horses. 

Isn't it sweet. Like a storybook town. 
The Spanish Moss, which I am told is in the pineapple family, was incredible. I absolutely love it. It's a good thing someone told be not to touch it because it looked so soft. They say that it's full of chiggers so I kept my hands to myself. 
The southern homes were lovely. This one faced a beautiful lake. 

 All those branches are from one tree. It's it amazing or what??? (upsize it to see it better) And the Spanish Moss is magical.  Savannah was a beautiful place and we're so glad to have been able to enjoy it for a few days. 
Bro. Joe and Wendy Springer, our sweet hosts. 

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